running hot

['68OrangeSunshine]

Originally Posted by dave`12

First, I have taken radiator caps off of hot engines, and can do it safely. I hate to see an argument about this, but I do know that you have to be careful with advice. A shop teacher once told me a story about when he told someone that if you could turn the pulley on an alternator, the belt was too loose. Some fool tried it with the engine running and ended up with a mangled hand - so you have to be careful.

Anyway,


Thanx for all the replies. To address some of the points:

1. the radiator cap is new 16psi.
2. the coolant is new, 50-50 with distilled water
3. I guess a cheap mechanical temp gauge is not a bad idea, not sure how or where to hook it up? I really do think the engine is getting too hot, after years of tinkering on cars, I just think it is.
4. suprized on the timing advice. I looked it up, and I'm pretty sure it said 0 is the required timing. I did the timing with the vacuum to the distributer plugged. The vacuum is the only vacuum port on the engine, and it comes from the base of the carb. I will retime it.
5. @ swamp rat: I'm gonna reinstall the thermostat. I tend to agree that the alternator is most likely the sound I'm hearing. Bummer, one more thing to replace.

6. as far as the shroud, I have none, just a little thing on the very top to keep you from touching the fan. The fan appears stock (I have no idea) non-clutch, non-flex. It has a spacer and is about 4 inches from the radiator. I have what appears to be a 2 core radiator.

Should I get a shroud? Do you gentlemen think my fan is sufficient?

thanks again.

dave

L6s don't come with a fanshroud. If it's not OEM you don't need it. They may be critical for V8s but a six doesn't need one. There's a big black fingerguard over the fan but that's all.
A bigger radiator would help. Operating in southern Florida, you may want to think "tropical". I live in Tucson -- I have 4 tier cores on my trucks with V8s and a 3 tier on my 292 L6. The OEM L6 radiator was also about 3 inches shorter [narrower] than the V8 radiators. It's very hard to get an L6-specific radiator anymore. For about the same money, the V8 radiator fits and works great, once you move the brackets on top and bottom out to their new marks. Longer hoses may also be necessary, IDK.
I like the Stant "safety cap" it has a red lever so you can pull up the lever to release pressure, then twist open after the steam has blown off.